Dose: Week 24 Preview
GAMES PLAYED IN WEEK 24 (April 8-April 14):
Two: Hawks, Pistons, Magic, Jazz
Three: Celtics, Bobcats, Mavs, Nuggets, Warriors, Rockets, Pacers, Clippers, Grizzlies, Thunder, Suns, Blazers, Spurs, Kings, Raptors, Wizards
Four: Nets, Bulls, Cavs, Lakers, Heat, Wolves, Bucks, Hornets, Knicks, Sixers
DAY OF WEEK NOTES FOR WEEK 23 (April 8-April 14)
Monday: Zero games (due to NCAA title game)
Tuesday: Ten games
Wednesday: Ten games
Thursday: Two games (Knicks, Bulls, Thunder, Warriors)
Friday: Fourteen games
Saturday: Four games (Celtics, Magic, Bucks, Bobcats, Suns, Wolves, Clippers, Grizzlies)
Sunday: Eight games
TEAM-BY-TEAM INJURY NOTES
ATLANTA
The Hawks are only 1.5 games up on the Celtics for the sixth seed in the East, but they don’t appear to care what seed they end up as. Therefore, Josh Smith (knee/precaution), Al Horford (hamstring/precaution), Kyle Korver (rest) and Devin Harris (toe) all sat out on Saturday. I suspect the first three will play on Wednesday, but we can’t say that for sure and owners should note that Atlanta plays just twice this week.
BOSTON
Kevin Garnett (ankle) made his return to the lineup Sunday, posting a solid 12/6/3 line with two steals and a block in 23 minutes. He’s certainly healthy, but the Celtics have a back-to-back on Friday/Saturday. He’s a candidate to sit out one of the games, along with Paul Pierce. That means we can count on much better days from Jeff Green, who flopped on Sunday (eight points, three rebounds, zero assists) as the starter next to KG.
BROOKLYN
Joe Johnson has scuffled in his return to the lineup, going 9-for-27 (33.3 percent) over the last two games. Better days are ahead as the Nets try to stay ahead of the Bulls for home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. … Gerald Wallace is healthy as well, but just isn’t a part of the offense. He’s averaging a painful 3.0 points and 2.2 rebounds over his last four games despite playing 30.2 minutes per night. He’s over the hill at age 31. … Reggie Evans just doesn’t stop. He’s getting 8.2 points, 16.6 rebounds, 1.1 steals over his last five games.
CHARLOTTE
I’ve talked plenty about how injuries have derailed a potential breakout season from Byron Mullens. His latest ailment is a bruised left elbow, sustained against the Nets on Saturday. Josh McRoberts has played 37 or more minutes in five straight games. … Michael Kidd-Gilchrist isn’t hurt, but the Bobcats strangely aren’t committed to getting him much-needed burn. He’s played 18 or fewer minutes in two of the last three games.
CHICAGO
Following an eight-game absence that crippled owners, Joakim Noah (plantar fasciitis) finally returned to action on Sunday (13 points, seven rebounds, three assists, 21 minutes). He’ll be on a strict leash as his injury is one that gets worse with wear, so he’s no lock to play in the back-to-back coming up on Thursday/Friday. I’d pencil Noah in for three games. … Meanwhile, Luol Deng has a mildly sore right hip, so he sat out Sunday as a precaution. He’s questionable for Tuesday. … Even though Marco Belinelli (abdominal) returned, Jimmy Butler stuck in the starting five. He remains a very strong option. … There’s no new news on Derrick Rose (knee). I’d be surprised if he played this year.
CLEVELAND
The Cavs appear very comfortable with Kyrie Irving’s shoulder as he logged nearly 36 minutes Sunday. However, they previously said he won’t play on back-to-backs. So we’ll consider him questionable for Tuesday/Wednesday, making a four-game week a likely three-game week. … Dion Waiters (knee) appears done for the year, which locks Wayne Ellington in as the starting shooting guard. The problem is that Ellington isn’t very good. He averages 10.2 points, 3.6 rebounds and 1.9 assists in 15 starts this year.
DALLAS
Dirk Nowitzki sat out the fourth quarter of Sunday’s near-collapse in Portland with a foot injury, but brushed it off afterward. He said he’d “definitely” play on Wednesday. … Chris Kaman is back in the starting five and playing aggressively on offense, but his minutes are subject to a thrashing at any minute. If the Mavs need offense, he plays. If they need defense, he sits.
DENVER
Ty Lawson (heel) has resumed some light activity and could get back on the court at some point late in the week, but I can’t trust him. Limited minutes in anticipation of the playoffs are a lock. … With Danilo Gallinari (ACL) done for the year, the Nuggets have inserted Wilson Chandler into the starting five. I’d be thrilled to roll with either Chandler or Corey Brewer the rest of the way.
DETROIT
Andre Drummond has been cleared to play more minutes. The rookie logged 30 on Saturday (9 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks, one steal), but then got a mere 20 on Sunday. Blame the back-to-back and lock him in if you can stomach the two-game week and free-throw shooting. … Jose Calderon can’t seem to shake this triceps strain as he’s sat out two of the last four games. Here’s an ominous quote uttered by coach Lawrence Frank Sunday: “What we’re not going to do it yo-yo him back and forth. We want to get it right before he comes back.” Rodney Stuckey is worth look.
GOLDEN STATE
Coach Mark Jackson has pledged not to rest his guys. On Sunday, Stephen Curry played 45, David Lee played 44 and Klay Thompson got 42. I’m still a little skeptical considering the Warriors’ place in the standings and the back-to-back looming on Thursday/Friday, but there are no injuries here.
HOUSTON
The seventh-seeded Rockets have a three-game cushion in the playoff race. Still, Chandler Parsons (calf) wants back in the lineup after sitting out Saturday.
“I was much better [Saturday],” said Parsons, who is hoping to practice Monday. “Obviously I want to play, especially when we play like we did on [Saturday]. I think I could help the team. And it’s starting to feel better, it’s not as sore, not as tender to the touch.”
I’d be willing to roll the dice on Parsons. Owners that were shrewdly streaming Francisco Garcia in can move along as Carlos Delfino should be over his illness as well.
INDIANA
The Pacers mailed one in on Saturday night, losing to the Wizards by 19. With no back-to-backs this week and two home games, expect full minutes and more focus across the board.
LA CLIPPERS
By beating the Lakers Sunday, the Clippers clinched their first Pacific Division title in franchise history. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see Blake Griffin, Chris Paul and DeAndre Jordan rest for one leg of the back-to-back coming up on Friday/Saturday. Matt Barnes will be someone to watch if that happens.
LA LAKERS
Steve Nash (hip, hamstring) sat out Sunday, his third straight game on the sideline. Coach Mike D’Antoni hinted that Nash needs to practice before getting back in a game, so we should know more Monday. Steve Blake will be a worth a look for owners in need of 3s no matter what. … Obviously, the rest of the Lakers’ stars are going to play close to 40 minutes every night the rest of the way. They’re tied with the Jazz for the final playoff spot in the West right now. MEMPHIS
The Grizz are among the healthiest teams in the league. They’re battling the Clippers for home-court advantage in the first round of their potential playoff matchup.
MIAMI
LeBron James and Ray Allen returned to action Saturday, but Dwyane Wade (knee) and Chris Bosh (knee) sat out. This is how it’s going to be the rest of the way, especially with a back-to-back on both Tuesday/Wednesday and Sunday/Monday. The good news is that the Heat are transparent about their plans for rest, so we’ll know when we can deploy spot-starts like Mike Miller.
MILWAUKEE
The Bucks have clinched a playoff spot, but they have an outside shot at passing the Celtics and avoiding the Heat in the first round. Everyone appears healthy, so get ‘em going in a four-game week.
MINNESOTA
Kevin Love (hand) still hasn’t been cleared for contact, which means he’s done for the year. … Somehow, Andrei Kirilenko is actually finishing the year out healthy. He’s averaging 12.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 1.9 steals over his last 10 games.
NEW ORLEANS
Eric Gordon had a screaming match with coach Monty Williams on Friday night, but that’s apparently already water under the bridge. He played 31 minutes in Sunday’s win at Phoenix. However, Gordon will almost certainly sit out one side of the Tuesday/Wednesday back-to-back.
NEW YORK
Tyson Chandler finally appears over his neck issue. In Sunday’s impressive win at Oklahoma City, he posted 15 points, five rebounds and two blocks in 38 minutes. … Just for fun, here’s Carmelo Anthony’s last four games: 41.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.5 treys a night.
OKLAHOMA CITY
The Thunder just don’t rest people down the stretch, no matter what. Here are some more notes on that.
ORLANDO
Jameer Nelson (ankle) has missed five straight games and remains day-to-day. Even if he gets back this week, Beno Udrih has earned 30-plus minutes nightly. He’s averaging 16.8 points, 8.0 assists and 4.0 assists over the last six. … Maurice Harkless’ knee scare was nothing to worry about as he played 38 minutes Sunday.
PHILADELPHIA
The Sixers are still extremely healthy. And Damien Wilkins continues to ball as the unquestioned starter. Despite a clunker at the hands of LeBron James on Saturday, Wilkins is averaging 14.1 points, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals over his last 10 games.
PHOENIX
If Marcin Gortat (foot) plays this year, it will be for a symbolic one-game cameo. … Jermaine O’Neal is impossible to trust as a spot-starter because no one knows when he’ll be a late scratch.
PORTLAND
Wesley Matthews went down with a nasty right ankle injury on Sunday night. Even though Matthews is one of the league’s true warriors, I’d be surprised if he plays Wednesday. The Blazers are out of the playoff chase and Matthews couldn’t put any pressure on the ankle as he went to the locker room. … Interestingly, second-round rookie Will Barton went off for 22 points, 13 rebounds, six assists and three steals – most of which came after Matthews’ injury. I don’t think Barton is a special talent, but he’s going to get a ton of burn with Nicolas Batum (shoulder) also out indefinitely.
SACRAMENTO
DeMarcus Cousins and Keith Smart continue to butt heads, resulting in a nine-minute outing off the bench on Friday. Cousins bounced back with 29 minutes on Sunday, but he still doesn’t seem to get it. In terms of Dynasty appeal, there’s just too much risk to invest a ton.
SAN ANTONIO
Tony Parker is dealing with ankle, shin, back, neck and finger issues. He plays for coach Gregg Popovich. The Spurs have made it clear that the West’s No. 1 seed is not their priority. In other words, I’d be surprised if Parker played again before the playoffs. Expect Tim Duncan to sit out at least one side of the back-to-back coming up on Sunday/Monday. … Manu Ginobili (hamstring) may not even be ready for the start of the playoffs. … I mentioned it on Thursday, but Kawhi Leonard is going to be a fantasy monster in the same class as the likes of Paul George and Nicolas Batum. The last two games – 23.5 points, 10.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists, 1.5 steals, 1.0 blocks, 2.0 treys is a glimpse of the post-Duncan era.
TORONTO
All the Raptors are playing out the string. That includes Rudy Gay (back), who has played in seven straight games.
UTAH
The Jazz are all-in to make the playoffs now, as evidenced by their win in Golden State on Sunday. Enes Kanter (shoulder) is probably done for the year, leaving a few more minutes for Derrick Favors. He posted 12 points, 13 rebounds and three blocks in 29 minutes on Sunday.
WASHINGTON
Brad Beal (leg) is done for the season. Otherwise, the Wizards are healthy. Even Nene has appeared in four straight as a desperation option for fantasy owners.
